Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-11-26
MARTINsBURG, W. VA. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 26, 1887.


lifted it.
"And a purity good lift it vas, Rags.
That one lift means big fecdin' fur you
and I long with the swells. If there's
huff ducats left we'll get sum new toys
and board round spell fore settlin'
down to biz 'g'in. Nixy, now, here comes
the old woman"
The latter entered with the pitcher of
beer The waits went to the snuff box VIM
dow and gazed out upon the chilly look
ing roofs and the slippery street below.
The old woman drank the beer, after
which she rolled herself in a tattered
blanket, laid down upon creaking bed,
turned her face to the WALL and was soon
loudly snoring
'She's gone up, Rags, Now fur it, but
hang rag over the keyhole first, said
the boy The girl did as he requested,
then came and sat down by him He
poured the clinking pieces upon the soap
box under the window sill.
rags, l reckon there's huff ducats here
to buy hull house from bottom to ca
baza"
Really, Bottles?''
''You hear your father talk! l hain't
much on the count, but / guess / can
strike it within few hundred. Jist fol-
Ter me-hellol here's slmthin else in the
puss. A ring. Bah! l don't take no
stock in them things. Can get a hull
CARLOAD jist like it down in Salem street
fur ten cents one. Put her on, kid. "
The ring, evidently designed for a child,
just fitted the dirty little finger over which
the girl slipped it.
''Now fur the ducats. Rags, ducats is
the root hog er die; an Pm jst porker
huff to root into 'em. One, two, three
grand and galorious signurs, here's
moren ten double buzzards Them stands
fur $50, two of lem is $40, and so on
xcetry. Here goes fur a count. One,
two, three, four, five. That's jist an even
800. phew! rich is no name fur it. Put
yer finger on that pile. Rags, yer holdin'
down $100. Does it burn yer fingerss
I'll even up with that pile and-presto.-
there's $500. Two hundred dollars and
other chicken feed too numerous to men
tionr' exclaimed the boy, sweeping the
money into the purse. 'Better drop the
sparkler in. II the old woman gifts on to
it, good evenin' ducats, sparkler, big
feedin', and all. I reckon we'd better get
sum ba'my sleep now"
"But, Bottles, Pm hungry. | want
somethin' to eat first" said Rags, turn
llIS IcI OluC tN Co up tIU llllii'
''Chew on that then, you poor little
hungry kid you All got, Eat way,
Rags; | can stand it till m0rnin'-no, till
dinner tomorrow.
The boy lay down upon q pile of rags,
and after the girl had eaten the soda
cracker which he had given to her she
too lay down near him and was soon
wrapped in slumber They awakened
early, rose and stole from the attic, leav-
ing the old woman still asleep.
#*#
81 say, Rags, hain't this iist old serum
shus?''
''Yup," mumbled Rags, IS she took a
great bite Of bread.
''See here, kid, don't be wastin' yer
eatitite on SIGH common grub as bread.
Sail into tie beans and salard, and ham N
eggs, and cranberry and sass and-turkey.
Turkey is the galorious bird of freedom
today" urged Bottles, helping himself in
turn to each of the dainties as named.
Perhaps the Crawford was never graced
by such pair during the whole of its ex-
tent Of catering to the public,
Bottles had purchased two regular din
ner checks, and chosen table in the cor
ner so as to be as free as possible from
the hungry crowd which thronged the
place The waits faces were washed
clean; they were as tidy as their dilapi-
dated garments would permit.
A new yellow ribbon held Rags curls
back from her really pretty face, with its
roguish, big, blue eyes, cute little mouth
and turn up nose. And Bottles, he had
laid out portion Of the wealth Oh a paper
collar, green tie and huge, glazing, red
glass pin. The ring which the purse had
contained was upon Rags forefinger.
''Hold up, Rags" whispered the boy,
touching her foot with his; "don't lick yer
fingers. Hain't l learned you better ner
that? Pm goin' to make lady of you,
kid, and I'm bound to have you git on to
them small items"
''All right Bottles; 1 guess yer right.
1 hain't up in SIGH eatin' as this, and you
must pardin slips"
Here's the wine list. Do we want
MummT'
''Nixey, II amt fur SIGH as us, Bot
ties, Sides, you'n l has started out on
the Temperance racket, and it hain't the
thing fur us to use budge.'
eyer speakin' in a right toot now,
Rags. l only mentioned the fack fur fun.
Can't you smuggle one of them tarts,
Rags
''Hain't it stealing?" asked the girl,
looking up quickly.
~,